Miss World 2013 Megan Lynne Young Visits Philippine Postal Corporation

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ms. Cory Quirino, National Director of Miss World Philippines, Miss Megan Lynne Young and Postmaster General Maria Josefina Dela Cruz pose at the facade of the Manila Central Post Office.

Miss World 2013 Megan Young was early for her appointed time and had to wait for several minutes inside the car.

The stamps, souvenir sheets and First Day Covers were issued last February 24, 2014 which enables stamp, memorabilia, missosologist, Megan Young fans, school alumni, and Miss World collectors to buy the issuance. After all, it is not everyday that you can see a Filipina winning an international title.

Not all winning countries in the Miss World pageant will automatically issue a commemorative stamps and First Day Cover. Asian countries like India which won Miss World 5 times, 1966, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, Israel 1998, China 2007, and 2012 did not issue any commemorative stamps.

Ms. World 2013 with a bouquet of flowers

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Ms. Cory Quirino, National Director of Miss World Philippines, Miss Megan Lynne Young and Postmaster General Maria Josefina Dela Cruz

Ms. Megan Lynne Young holding a stamp souvenir sheet

Being a momentous occasion,  All  stones must be left unturned . It is not everyday that an international beauty queen and Miss World organization visit an institution like Philippine Postal Corporation.

We got some call coming from the outgoing president of the Philippine Philatelic Federation ( umbrella organization of all recognized stamp clubs by Philpost in the country )  last Friday ( March 21,2014) calling  its members to attend the stamp re-launching and autograph signing opportunities.

Stamps and first day cover mounted on a frame

We were told that the stamp launching will be held at the main lobby of Philpost and autograph signing will commence after the ceremony. Even up to the last Sunday ( March 23, 2014) no concrete time, program and even words coming from the Corporate Communication Affairs of Philpost on the whereabouts of the stamp launching.

Long queues of people and on-lookers, most are Philpost employees

It was like a guessing game for all of us, even with the advent of Facebook , Twitter , It did not help that much. I need to tag several friends from Philpost and try to ask them some details up until the last minute, When lo and behold the head of the Corporate Communications made some necessary announcement!

Postmaster General Maria Josefina Dela Cruz and CEO, Philpost President Ceasar Sarino , Board members  , Philpost AMPG’s and Miss World 2013 Megan Lynne Young in a ceremonial autograph signing ceremonies held at the main lobby of Philpost

Have no problem with any morning time schedule. I had to shove -off several appointments to early afternoon just to come and even write-a couple of articles about the stamp re-launching and autograph signing.

Jam-packed venue with hundreds of people, stamp collectors, media and invited guests

The main lobby can accommodate several hundred of people and thus pose no problem with any stamp launching.  My blogger friends , some stamp  and memorabilia collectors were already there several hours before the launching time . A stamp collector with his wife had to travel from Las Piñas all the way to Philpost just to attend the event. 

L-R  Postmaster General Maria Josefina Dela Cruz , Ms. Megan Young and Mr. Ceasar Sarino

I saw a mother and a young daughter who  queue for the line just to see and let Ms. Megan Young autograph ! According to the mother , her daughter inspiration is Ms. Megan Young and they have to wake -up early just to see Miss World 2013 in person and let her sign the autograph (They ended-up with nothing !)

There were some sort of pre-registration process where Philpost staffs and employees got our names , address and contact information- according to them, Those first 50 buyers of First Day Covers and stamps will be prioritized for the meet and greet, photo opportunity and autograph signing !  I hope those valuable information would not be sold to some multi-level marketing or credit card companies which would send some letters and advertising materials once in a while.

Miss Megan Young at the Manila Central Post office facade

The long queues of line seems broken when Ms. Megan Young was escorted outside .  We queue again for the second time, thinking that the autograph signing will be held at the main lobby . Finally, people had a mad rush at the third floor when someone from the  Marketing Section and Corporate Communication Affairs office announced that there will be a press conference at the 3rd floor within the BOC office.

L-R Mr. Steve Douglas (Event Director, Miss World Ltd.) , Ms. Cory Quirino ( Miss World Philippines National Coordinator), Ms. Megan Young ( Miss World 2013 ) and Ms. Maria Josefina Dela Cruz ( Postmaster General and CEO – Philippine Postal Corporation )

There was a staff of the Corporate Communication office which keeps on shoving us off as if we were just on-lookers! It seems like he was clueless on how to handle a crowd and invited guests. He also gave a Miss World 2013 souvenir sheet to a person with large camera thinking that he was a member of the media.

Group photo with Miss World -Philippines board members, Mr. Steve Douglas- Miss World event manager and Philpost officials

Luckily, I knew someone from the Corporate Communication office who seems to be there long enough to know who are the legitimate writers and even bloggers.

Ms. Macaria J. Leonardo ( postage and metered services division )

During the press conference, I was lucky to be given the opportunity to ask a simple but hard question.  ”Is there is a BIG chance of the country to host the Miss World pageant within this year or next year?“ Mr. Steve Douglas -As far as the Miss World organization is concern, the pageant is going to be held in London, England. But with recent developments and rebuilding due to Typhoon Haiyan and the WE Hope and GOD Willing” . There was 100% record increase in Tourism in a lot of countries which hosted the Miss World pageant! – There is still High Hopes !- Event Director of Miss World.

During the press conference, Ms. Cory Quirino - Miss World -Philippines ( National Franchise Director ) announced: “We just received a letter of endorsement from Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez giving us 100 percent support to host the Miss World pageant here , the endorsement was forwarded to the office of the President. From there we are going to move forward, so abangan ang susunod na kabanata (wait for the next chapter). “

Congressman Eric Olivarez First District of Parañaque filed a resolution in the house which endorses the hosting of Miss World 2014 . BUT we still have to wait a little more for more concrete reports.

Facebook Page of PHLPost : https://www.facebook.com/PHLPost

Note: Finally , We were able to let Miss World 2013 Megan Lynne Young sign our first day cover and It is like a quest for the elusive Miss World 2013 crown which ended with all the traveling hours spend , queuing of lines, mad- rush going to the 3rd floor,  shoving -off incidents ,  guessing game style, last minute preparation and information.

All story that ends well ( parang Cinderella story LOL) . Unfortunately there were some stamp collectors and souvenir hunters which went home without a single autograph and I pity the mother and daughter tandem, Mr. Bobet Coyoca and Mrs. Chisten Mary Coyoca from Las Piñas  which braved the queuing lines just to get the autograph of the reigning Miss World 2013.  Pero sadly umuwing luhaan!

Philip Reyes- my blogger friend , stamp , postcard  collector and Freethinker member

Lesson Learned:  We hope in the coming months,  especially those departments, sections, and media affairs that were actively involve in this stamp re-launching, photo opportunity and autograph event, to make it more orderly as possible, nakakahiya sa mga non-Philpost employees at mga public kung labo-labo ang pag-pila.

The author together with Ms. World 2013

Last note: We heard that the emcee said in front of the live audience , that Ms. Megan Lynne Young stamps is the second living person in the Philippines to be featured in stamps. Well, Please do more researches in Philpost archives or library. Or simply try to ask your favorite duktor or some real stamp collectors  about those facts!


Contributed by Lawrence Chan